Mainland's Powell accepts spot in Under Armour All-America Game

Mainland's Quinton Powell said he will play in the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 4 on ESPN.

BRIAN LINDER STAFF WRITER

DAYTONA BEACH — Mainland's Quinton Powell is no stranger to playing against the best high school football players in the country.

He spent part of his summer competing at Nike's elite camp in Oregon — The Opening — as well as the 7-on-7 all-star tournament — Gridiron Kings — which aired on ESPNU.

On Tuesday night, Powell said he will get another opportunity to compete against the country's best, announcing he has accepted an invitation to play in the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 4. The game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg is scheduled to air live on ESPN at 5 p.m.

“This is very exciting,” Powell said. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Every athlete dreams about this moment and playing in this game. I just want to thank God for the opportunity to play in a game like this.”

Powell — the 80th-ranked senior in the nation, according to ESPN — follows in the footsteps of his former Mainland teammate, Leonard Williams. Williams played in the Under Armour game last year, then went on to sign with Southern Cal and was recently named Pac-12 freshman defensive player of the year.

Powell joins an elite group that has committed to play in the 2013 game, including the top three players in the country, according to ESPN — defensive ends Robert Nkemdiche and Carl Lawson and defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III.

Powell is slated to play on the White team, which will be coached by former San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions head coach Steve Mariucci. Former Florida State and NFL great Deion Sanders is listed as an assistant coach for Powell's team.

Former New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards will coach the Black team.

“Everybody doesn't get this opportunity,” Powell said. “With those type of guys coaching you … you just try to absorb everything.

“I can't wait,” he added. “I had two opportunities to play (against top competition) over the summer. I know everybody will be watching this game, and I can't wait to prove to everybody who thought I couldn't do something like this (that they were) wrong.”

Under Armour was the second All-American game offered to Powell. He was also invited to play in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Los Angeles on Jan. 4.

Powell (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) played mostly defensive end for Mainland this season. He recorded 94 tackles and led the area in tackles for loss (34) and sacks (12). He is projected as a linebacker at the college level, and is listed on the White roster as an outside linebacker.

It was the second big announcement by Powell in as many days.

After committing to Florida in February, Powell announced Monday he was re-opening his recruiting and was planning on visiting Southern Cal, Oregon and Miami.

Verbal commitments are non-binding agreements between athletes and colleges, and Powell has until National Signing Day (Feb. 6, 2013) — and perhaps beyond — before he has to finalize his decision and sign a binding national letter of intent with a college.